Cast your mind back to November 2012, when a then 17-year-old Harry Styles enjoyed a three-month whirlwind romance with internationally renowned pop singer, Taylor Swift.
During their brief relationship, the pair were spotted wearing matching necklaces, visiting Central Park zoo and kissing in the middle of Times Square in New York as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, before splitting soon after a romantic getaway to the British Virgin Islands.
Since their semi-acrimonious split in 2013 (her single 'Out of the Woods' was rumoured to be about the Brit singer), Styles reportedly went onto enjoy relationships with the likes of Cara Delevingne and Kendall Jenner, but has since come to realise some home truths about his rollercoaster-like dating history, during his hiatus from the limelight.
Prepare yourselves ladies and gents, it's about to get emotional up in here.
In an interview with Nick Grimshaw on The Radio 1 Breakfast Show earlier this week, the 23-year-old admitted the focus on his up-coming album and role in Christopher Nolan's film, Dunkirk, has meant he's had to put his dating life on the back burner for the time being.
According to the Daily Mail, the heartthrob described his love life and revealed: 'I haven't dated in a long time really because I went away to do the movie then did the album so I haven't in a while. I have a couple of candles left still though.'
However, Hazza – who has just released his debut single – doesn't want you bringing out the violins and whacking on a bit of Phil Collins to sooth his broken heartstrings just yet, as it was during this dating dry spell that he came to realise how 'wrong' and 'weird' his lothario-like behavior has been when to dating women in the past.
Er, you think, Harry?
Surprisingly, the British singer explained he's much like the rest of us dating muggles when it comes to researching every element of his dates' social media profiles, but has realised it's not healthy for a blossoming relationship.
'No, I used to (research dates), then I said I'm not going to do that anymore, it's impossible to go in without a perception of someone and you've never met them and I started feeling like that was wrong and weird,' he added.
Opening up about the pitfalls of dating as a celebrity, the One Direction star said: 'I feel like with all of the stuff how people date now with all online stuff I feel like you can do that (Google) with anyone really if you're looking at someone's profile before seeing them it's kinda the same…'
So, how is Harry planning to get himself back on the dating bandwagon?
A Tinder profile, perhaps?
Speed dating?
Well, first he's going to have to stop listening to his own album if he ever wants to find a date.
'In the least weird way possible, it's my favourite album to listen to at the moment… I hope we did a good job but I really like the album so I hope people like it,' he explained.
'It's a bit weird, I feel like I've been hibernating for so long now and you hear it in the safety of the studio and now it's time to give birth … it's the song (debut single) I'm most proud of writing,' he added.
So to sum up, Harry has loads of dating regret, is guilty of researching women online, is currently having a Mariah Carey-like moment and listening to his own music and waiting to give birth (to his music).
How times have changed.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
